Chapter 46: Sweet Dreams and Nightmares, Who Wishes to Sink into Depravity?
***
Luo Chenxi gritted her teeth, supporting herself against the cold wall as she struggled to stand. Her eyes churned with fury that seemed ready to burst from her chest, even her breathing trembled with rage.
Though she was a princess, she was merely the illegitimate daughter of a promiscuous emperor.
Who her birth mother was, she had never known, let alone met.
And that lofty father treated her with nothing but coldness, unwilling to spare even a single extra glance her way.
Even these palace maids of lowly birth dared to bully her at will.
In this cruel imperial family, she felt not an ounce of familial affection.
If not for awakening her Phoenix bloodline, she might have died long ago in this detestable place.
âOh my, our Princess, you can still stand up?â
The lead palace maid curled her lips, her tone dripping with mockery.
She didnât consider this fallen princess worth anything at all. How many people in the palace wished for this eyesore to disappear quickly?
And she could conveniently squeeze out the last bit of profit before that happened.
âHurry up and hand over your monthly allowance. You donât want to suffer more, do you?â
A nearby palace maid slowly approached, the corner of her mouth curving into a sinister smile, her eyes like a snake eyeing its prey.
Though this princess was out of favor, she was still a princess. Her monthly allowance was much more than theirs.
Previously, they had been collecting it on her behalf, but this time the princess had gone to collect it herself.
How were they supposed to profit from that?
âYou beasts, I will never give it to you!â
The fury in Luo Chenxiâs chest seemed ready to ignite.
If not for this pack of wolves, how would she have become so thin she was nothing but skin and bones?
How would she have struggled on the edge of life and death time and again?
Last time, after they seized her monthly allowance, she had been reduced to fighting dogs for scraps of food.
But this time⊠impossible!
One palace maid tried to grab Luo Chenxi, but was severely intimidated by her blazing eyes, her hand freezing mid-air.
âHey, what are you afraid of?â
Seeing the palace maidâs hesitant appearance, the lead maid scolded her.
She strode forward several steps, preparing to take action herself.
But the moment she reached out, Luo Chenxi suddenly exploded like an enraged young beast, pouncing forward and biting down hard on that outstretched hand!
Her sharp teeth sank into flesh, and no matter how the other person pulled and cursed, she clenched her jaw tight. Even her gums bled, but she refused to let go even slightly.
âOw! Are you a dog? Let go!â
The lead palace maid immediately screamed in agony, sweat instantly beading on her forehead.
The surrounding palace maids were frightened pale by this almost desperate viciousness, instinctively backing away repeatedly.
Seeing this scene, the bitten maid urgently shouted: âWhat are you standing around for? Help me get her off!â
Only then did the surrounding palace maids snap out of it, scrambling to try to pull Luo Chenxi away.
But Luo Chenxi still bit down relentlessly, looking like she wouldnât give up until she tore off a chunk of flesh.
âDonât pull her, just hit her head directly!â Feeling the increasing pain in her arm, the maid urgently shouted.
If she didnât make her let go, she really might lose a piece of flesh.
Hearing this, one palace maid grabbed a wooden stick from nearby and swung it hard at Luo Chenxiâs head with a dull thud.
Pain!
A wave of intense dizziness struck, and Luo Chenxi was forced to release her bite.
The lead palace maid immediately flung her away with great force, sending Luo Chenxi crashing heavily to the ground, her bones hitting the floor with a dull sound.
Due to the continuous severe injuries, the already frail Luo Chenxi had blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, lying somewhat powerlessly on the cold palace tiles.
âDamn bitch, you actually dared to bite me. Beat her up!â
The bitten palace maidâs eyes flashed with bloodthirsty rage as she snatched the wooden stick and began raining blows on Luo Chenxiâs body.
Luo Chenxi tried to muster all her strength to crawl up, but was beaten down againâŠ
âAm I still this powerlessâŠâ
âHow much longer must I endure these dark days?â
âIs there anyone who can save me?â
Luo Chenxi had forgotten how long it had been since she last cried. Perhaps she had already dried up all her tears long ago.
But now, why were her eyes beginning to moisten again?
This life was so hard, so exhaustingâŠ
Since childhood, struggling alone in the cold palace without father or mother, she had finally waited for her bloodline to awaken and felt the sunshine of this world.
But why was she dragged back into this bottomless darkness in an instant?
Warm blood was slowly flowing from her wounds. She suddenly felt her eyelids heavy as lead, and the consciousness in her mind began to blur like being shrouded in thick fog.
A lazy and bewitching voice suddenly drifted to her ears: âSleep, fall asleep, and youâll never hurt againâŠâ
Really? If she slept, she wouldnât suffer these pains anymore?
But⊠why did she still feel somewhat unwillingâŠ
âŠ
Warm sunlight filtered through the window lattice, gently falling on Lin Muyuâs face.
Her eyelashes fluttered lightly in the soft warmth as she slowly opened her eyes.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked around.
âMm, this place⊠seems so familiar?â
The furnishings before her were warm and familiar.
Floral curtains, wooden desk, a family photo hanging on the wall⊠but within this familiarity was a hint of unreal confusion.
âDidnât I transmigrate? Was that just a dream?â
Lin Muyu rubbed her slightly aching head. Slowly, she seemed to begin forgetting something.
âXiao Yu, come out and eat!â
A gentle and familiar voice came from outside the door.
Lin Muyuâs eyes widened suddenly, her pupils contracting sharply, her face filled with disbelief.
This voice⊠was it Mom? But Mom had clearly died in that great earthquakeâŠ
Without time to think further, Lin Muyu rushed out the door.
Before her stood a gentle woman with some wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
âMom?â
Lin Muyu murmured in disbelief.
Hadnât her parents died in a massive earthquake when she was young?
WhyâŠ
âWhat are you standing there for? Hurry up and wash your hands for dinner.â
Hearing this gentle urging that was etched into her very bones, Lin Muyu could no longer hold back. Tears instantly burst forth as she rushed over and hugged Mother Linâs waist tightly.
âMom, wuu wuu wuu, I missed you so much.â
During countless nights at the orphanage, gazing at the bright moon outside the window, she had longed for such an embrace, such familial love.
âSilly child, why are you crying? We just saw each other yesterday, didnât we?â
Mother Lin gently stroked Lin Muyuâs long hair, softly comforting her.
âWhy are you crying and wailing so early in the morning?â
The nearby door opened, and a hearty middle-aged manâs voice came through.
Then a robust middle-aged man walked out from inside.
Lin Muyuâs eyes lit up, joy surging like a tide. She choked up as she called out:
âDad, youâre here too!â
âOf course Iâm here.â Father Lin asked strangely, his tone carrying its usual warmth.
The wild joy of long-awaited reunion overwhelmed her. Lin Muyu quickly broke free from Mother Linâs embrace, planning to give Father Lin a big hug too.
But Father Lin stopped her with his hand against her head, saying:
âYouâre a young lady now, you need to mind your image.â
Hearing these words, Lin Muyu was stunned.
âYoung lady?â
Lin Muyu looked down at herself. She was wearing a beautiful floral dress.
The two soft mounds on her chest blocked her view.
Only then did she feel the smooth long hair falling freely across her cheeks.
She was now truly a girl!
âNo⊠shouldnât I be a boy?â
âWhy?â
Lin Muyu suddenly felt her brain swelling with pain, as if countless needles were stabbing it.
She clutched her aching head tightly, her voice carrying tears and trembling: âNo⊠this is all wrong!â
Seeing this situation, Father and Mother Lin hurriedly comforted her:
âWhatâs wrong, dear daughter? Whatâs not right?â
âEverything is wrong!â
But she⊠why⊠had she forgotten something?
What exactly had she forgottenâŠ